Holding On To Happy | ✔

22. Intruder

"So, let me get this straight," Alyssa said as we stood in line for ice cream. The tiny shop was crowded for a Sunday afternoon and the line moved slowly, but she insisted we go. "There was no kissing, like, at all?"

"Almost, but we got interrupted."

"And he didn't try again?"

"No, I guess he decided to take things slower?"

At least that's what I've been telling myself. To be honest, I expected a kiss at the end of the night. Instead I got a hug. It was only the first date though. So, I came to the conclusion that he was being a gentleman and taking things slow.

Either that or he changed his mind about being romantically linked with me. Something I choose not to think about too much.

"Screw taking things slow," she said, more to the woman scooping ice cream than to me. "Life is way too short for that."

Shaking my head at her, I pulled my vibrating phone from my purse. Smiling at the sight of the text from Calvin. Could he somehow sense that we were talking about him?

"Is that him?" Alyssa questioned, attempting to read the message.

"Yeah, he wants to know what I'm doing tonight," I told her as I started to text back.

"Maybe he wants to make up for not smooching you last night," she said with a wink.

Rolling my eyes, I pushed her forward since we were finally next in line.

"It doesn't matter because we have plans," I said after we got our ice cream cones.

"We who?"

"You and me," I explained, slowly. "Did you forget? We planned out a whole spa night. Pinterest boards were made."

"Yeah, I'm gonna have to cancel that," she said sheepishly.

"Why?" I demanded as we left the ice cream shop.

"I'm meeting someone," she confessed, her light cheeks tinged with red.

Judging the way she's blushing, this someone must be a new love interest.

"So, you're the kind of girl who blows off her friends when she's in a relationship?" I pouted. "My feelings are hurt."

"I'm sorry, but this is the only time I get to see her," she said, linking her elbow with mine. "Besides, wouldn't you rather be Calvin?"

A smile crept across my face as I thought about him. Hanging out with him did sound like fun and I didn't want to get in the way of Alyssa's blossoming relationship. 

"Okay, you enjoy your girlfriend -"

Something smashed against the side of my face, followed by a cold icy liquid seeping through my shirt. There were gasps and whispers from people on the street as they watched. My white shirt was now stained blue and my eyes were burning from the slush that got into them.

Dropping my cone, I used the napkin that was wrapped around it to dab the liquid from my eyes. It wasn't much help though since it was also hit with the blue drink.

"Are you okay?" She asked, handing me her own napkin.

Wiping the icy drink from my watering eyes, I looked up just in time to see the familiar convertible driving down the street. They hadn't bothered me since the tire incident and I thought that they were moving on. Silly me. 

They were really starting to get under my skin.

"Was that Ellen?" she asked as I wrung out my hair, make a blue puddle on the sidewalk. "How can they still think you're dating Derek?"